MaxPreps 2017 North Dakota preseason high school football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Recap - Century vs. Red River 2016
See the top team in North Dakota in action during its championship season.


1. Century (Bismarck)
2016 record: 10-2
Head coach: Ron Wingenbach

Quarterback Jakob Olson is back for the defending AAA state champions and the signal caller will look to lead the Patriots to a three-peat.

Olson will have Levi Rockey, a rising senior, to help protect him on the offensive line, while the 6-foot, 210 pounder will also see time at linebacker.

Devyn Vance is a big target for Olson at 6-2, 215 pounds and complements well with Kade Lynch at wide receiver.

See the MaxPreps North Dakota Football Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. St. Mary's Central (Bismarck)
2016 record: 15-0
Head coach: Dan Smrekar

The Saints are coming off their third state title in four years.

But a veteran offensive line of Sam Harris, Ian Brown, Chauncey Turner, Joseph Richter and Ethan Birnbaum and tight end Gabe Aberle must be replaced. Rising seniors Trysten Ruhland and Zach Petersen look to lead a young group of hogs to protect returning first team All-State quarterback Cole Gendreau.

The QB completed 52-of-107 passes for 803 yards and nine score, while adding 326 yards and five TDs on the ground.

Gendreau will have fullback Jonah Krebs to lead the Saints' rushing attack now that Kurt Dickhut is graduated.

See the MaxPreps North Dakota football stat leaders 3. Shanley (Fargo)
2016 record: 9-3
Head coach: Troy Mattern

Troy Mattern takes over at Shanley for Rod Oksendahl, who (temporarily) hung up his whistle after 10 years with the Deacons in a career that spanned 40 years and included more than 300 victories. Oksendahl took a recruiting job with Mayville State.

Mattern had been at Fargo South since 2010 and won state titles in 2010 and 2013. He will have to replace first All-State quarterback Matt Burd, offensive lineman Justin Dekeyser and defensive lineman Kolby Johnson.
First team All-State linebacker Jake Kava is back for the Deacons.

See the MaxPreps North Dakota football playoff brackets

4. Bismarck
2016 record: 9-3
Head coach: Mark Gibson

The Demons will have to replace Offensive Player of the Year Lucas Butts, who ran for 2,077 yards and 26 TDs last season as well as first team All-State offensive lineman Preston Mayer.

Quarterback Will Madler will look to return Bismarck to the title game as he did in his sophomore campaign. He will have help from rising senior linebacker and tight end Mark Stumpf, as well as senior wideout AJ Jerome and junior running back Isaiah Olsen.

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5. West Fargo
2016 record: 9-2
Head coach: Jay Gibson

The Packers will have incoming senior Billy Huber at quarterback along with rising junior running back Gabriel Leseberg to build in 2016's 9-2 campaign.

West Fargo graduated a lot of size on the lines, but look to rising senior guard and defensive tackle Eli Gulland as well as end Jeddie Nyei.